Materia Medica

Alangium salviifolium flowering branch with cream recurved flowers, simple leaves and short spines
Alangium / Ankol (Alangium salviifolium) — Ankola / Sage-Leaved Alangium
Alangium / Ankol (Alangium salviifolium) materia medica covering botanical identity, traditional part-specific uses, alkaloids including cephaeline, preparations and dose limitations, preclinical anti-inflammatory and other research, reproductive and alkaloid safety, cultivation,... Read more...
Alnus glutinosa black alder leaves
Alder, Black (European) — Alnus glutinosa
Black alder or European alder (Alnus glutinosa) is a Eurasian wetland tree introduced into Illinois and other parts of North America. Its bark has a traditional astringent, fever and wound-use... Read more...
Hollyhock / Alcea (Alcea rosea): Mucilage, Traditional Soothing Use, Edible Flowers, Preclinical Research & Safety
Hollyhock (Alcea rosea) is an old cottage-garden mallow with edible flowers and a long tradition of soothing respiratory, digestive and urinary preparations. This guide distinguishes the accepted name Alcea rosea from the older synonym Althaea rosea, reviews its unusually abundant flower mucilage, anthocyanins and flavonoids, summarizes preclinical airway, kidney-stone, glucose, inflammatory and anticancer research, and explains the major evidence gap: convincing controlled human therapeutic trials are still lacking. Read more...
Alnus rubra red alder catkins and foliage
Alder, Red — Alnus rubra
Red alder (Alnus rubra) is the dominant native alder of the Pacific Northwest and a major nitrogen-fixing pioneer tree. Its bark has a documented history in Coast Salish and other... Read more...
Speckled Alder (Alnus incana subsp. rugosa): Indigenous Traditions, Oregonin & Betulin, Nitrogen Fixation, Research & Safety
Speckled alder (Alnus incana subsp. rugosa; syn. Alnus rugosa) is a native wetland shrub of northeastern and north-central North America, including Illinois. Its bark and roots have documented Mi’kmaq and Ojibwe uses, while James Bay Cree knowledge has guided modern metabolic research. This guide covers oregonin-rich diarylheptanoids, betulin and related triterpenes, preclinical antimycobacterial and metabolic studies, Frankia nitrogen fixation, pollen allergy, sourcing and safety. Read more...